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A Perspective of Minimal Democracy in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope 1853 – 1994

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A Perspective of Minimal Democracy in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope 1853 – 1994 ARTICLE ARTICLE Assessing Development Paradigms of Democracy: A Perspective of Minimal Democracy in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope 1853 – 1994 NDAGUBA, E.A. Abstract his paper is a first of two separate and space. It contends that both Tpapers in an attempt to recount the representative and responsible democracy antecedent of minimalist democracy in the existed in practice and principle in the Cape Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. The of Good Hope between 1854 and 1872 study uses thematic reviews, documentary respectively. The central thesis of this paper evidence, scholarly encyclopaedia and is that, the Colony of the Cape of Good articles. Other methods used in gathering Hope is arguably the first and only Colony data for the study include legislative under British Conquest in Africa to operate proceedings, enactments and Acts, as well both representative and responsible as various Constitutions and information government in colonial era. Also, from websites (www.nelsonmandela.org). opportunities were evenly shared between The study establishes that there existed whites and non-whites. It concludes with an tenets of democratic element not in African Proverb that says, “Until lions tell wholeness as with maximalist approach to their tale, the story of the hunt will always democracy in the Cape of Good Hope. glorify the hunter.” Nonetheless, based on the context of time Keywords: Democracy, Minimal Democracy, Cape of Good Hope, Colonial Era 440 Assessing Development Paradigms of Democracy in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope 441 Introduction The notion of democracy by Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) set the stage for traditional and medieval ideological foundation of minimal democracy. With the phrase that democracy, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”, crowned the parochial and classical underpinning of democracies. The idea of Lincoln can thus be summarized as representative and responsive governance structure and system in a state. Hence, such parochial assumptions and idiosyncrasies still resonate in democracy discourse regardless of its advancement in depth, principle, practice, and understanding. To have a laconic comprehension of the depth of democracy, the paper will outline and interpret legislations, enactments, policies, and ordinances that corroborate in the argument that there existed even minimally in the British Colony of the Cape of Good Hope between 1853-1990. Premised on the notion, that democracies overtime have expressed itself in diverse facets and dimensions, forms and perspectives in human antiquities (representative, responsive, expansive democracies, etc.). Though, earlier forms of democracies and democratic liberalism were instituted to protect the rights and privileges of a few (see protective democracies). Been that, the form of democracy at the time was built to protect the bourgeoisie from the protectorate (capitalist from labourers). Arguably, ideals of universal suffrage, human rights, freedom, liberty, pluralism, socialism, political participation and citizen’s engagement or involvement, and democratic accountability were non-existent. Since there has been several documented evidence of democracy post-1994. The study lies on the weakness of the shortage/ deficiency in academic material on democracy prequel to 1994. Hence, the need to investigate in order to ascertain whether their existed (minimally or maximally) tenets of democracy afore 1994, as well as to understand the shifts in various epochs in colonial history of democracy. The need to ascertain the existence of democratic elements before 1994 is to reflect on past ‘democratic’ quagmires and achievements, which will enable a nation to measure or adjudge its achievements. As simplified in the words of Terry Pratchett (2010): If you do not know where you come from, then you don't know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, then you don't 442 Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review know where you're going. And if you don't know where you're going, you're probably going wrong.1 Evidence shows that democracy was based on suffrage in the 19th century (Worden, 2011: 171). Hence, election was persisted as the commonly used perceptions for underscoring democracy across board (though till date some nations still lie on this, see Zimbabwe and Cameroun) (Held, 2006: 1). However, this notion has gathered dust, as the US congresswoman Jeane Kirkpatrick puts it, “Democratic elections are not merely symbolic legislations or collective dimensions. They are competitive, periodic, inclusive, definitive elections in which the chief decision-makers in a government are selected by citizens who enjoy broad freedom to criticize government, to publish their criticism, and to present alternatives” (Mbi, 2007; Kirkpatrick, 1988).2 Hence, a nation whose democratic values does not subsume the aforementioned are vilified from been referred to as a democratic entity. Recent advancement in democratic discourse resonate the idea that every system that practice democracy must hold in esteem, the place and supremacy of the constitution, respect of the constitutional provisions and loyalty to such provisions enacted or adopted by parliament, separation of powers among various arms and sphere of government, promotion of political pluralism, recognition of the roles and responsibility of opposition as a watchdog, in additional to a constitution that recognise fundamental rights in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and dichotomy of public administration from politics (Somalia Times, 2005;3 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2016; Gyimah-Boadi, 2004; Bujra and Adejumobi, 2002) are quintessential ingredient towards democratic accountability. Nonetheless, for the purpose of this study and for the paper to portray as well as show that though full democratic principles might not be invoked. Conversely, it argues that democracy based on minimal democracy was feasible. 1 https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/412254-if-you-do-not-know-where-you-come-from- then 2 https://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/DOCS/whatsdem/whatdm5.htm 3 http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/204/26.shtml Assessing Development Paradigms of Democracy in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope 443 Minimalist approach The notion of Minimalist Democracy is ceded in Scherpeter's (1942) contraption of democracy. Where he argued, "democracy is a system, in which rulers are selected by competitive elections" (Przeworksi, 1999: 12). The idea was further corroborated by Poper (1962: 12), when he contends in similar vein, that democracy is the only system of government in which citizens holds the right to change a government without bloodshed (Przeworksi, 1999: 12). In Adam Przeworski defence on the concept of minimalist democracy summarizes its notion from both Popperian and Schumpeterian argument. That the concept of minimalist democracy is a description of value connotation where empirical evaluation is definitional. Characterized by representation, equality, participation, security, rationality, and justice among others. The clearest analogy in support of minimalist democracy is that "unless democracy is x or generates x…” Though there was no clarity as to the ellipses, therefore no conclusion can be empirically drawn. However, several scholars (Weffort, 1992; Schmitter and Karl, 1991; Shapiro, 1996: 108; Kelsen (1988 [1929]: 38) have argued that the statement is a reflect of either, "unless x is fulfilled or that democracy in a minimal sense will not endure unless x is satisfied" (Przeworski, 2001: 23-24). Which is in line with the first assertion of minimalist democracy by Scherpeter in this paper. That sees democracy as a system of transferring or transition of power through competitive election. As emphasized by Bobbio (1984: 156), that democracy is nothing other than “a set of rules… for the solution of conflict without bloodshed crowns the ideal of minimalist democracy. Hence, the idea of democracy was view that enables for a transition of power in a peaceful manner. Thereby, the ballot was seen as the only available means through which such transition is possible without conflict or bloodshed. It can also be argued that the idea of minimalist democracy is centred on competitiveness. In that, Loser's in a certain competitive election can only wait for another tenure before they contest. Been the premise of the argument by Bidner, Francois, and Trebbi, (2015), that minimalist democracy is a transitory phase on the path towards fuller democracy; else a stable government practice in itself. In that, most developing countries (even in recent time) are often dependent on this notion of democracy. To Morlino (2002), the idea of minimalist or maximalist approach to democracy is dependent on the degree of liberty and freedom it guarantees. Hence, a democracy is qualified as ‘good’ when it establishes a clear notion of quality. According to Morlino 444 Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review (1998), certain essential constituents constitutes that idea of a minimal democracy as, universal adult suffrage, recurring free, competitive and fair elections, more than a single political party, and where more than one source of information is guaranteed. However, predominantly in his argument that two major objectives are a proverbial of the degree of democracy even while minimal in any society. They include, equality and freedom. Premised on the rational for minimalist democracy, the study will portray the existence of this
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